Locking device for clamp screws



. 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. so, 1947 INVENTOR. EU/naad A. alz van ug- 9, 1949.. E. R. SULLIVAN 2,478,339

LOCKING DEVICE FCR CLAMP sCREws Filed Jan. 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 15E/mund l?. Sulguan Patented ug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved locking device for clamp screws.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved locking device adapted to be associated with the mounting bracket of any outboard motor for securely locking the bracket against removal and preventing the same from becoming loosened through motor vibration.

Another object is the provision oi a locking device particularly adaptable for assemblage on the mounting bracket of a standard outboard motor and having novel means for automatically locking the bracket to a boat when the thumb screws thereof are screwed home.

A further object is to provide a locking device having a pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to be actuated by a single lock to assure of the clamping screws of a mounting bracket being securely and readily locked in place.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent as the following specification is considered 4with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the locking device assembled on an outboard motor mounting bracket;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the bracket and assembled locking device;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the locking device with the cover plate removed, showing the pawls in locking positions relative to the ratchets Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 but with the pawls in open or unlocked positions;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views, numeral I relates generally to an outboard motor attachment bracket assembled on a member 2 which may be the rear end board of a boat or a part of a storage rack for outboard motors. The bracket I includes two downwardly depending arms 3 which are enlarged and slotted at their lower ends, as at t, to receive a headed bolt 5 which carries one-half of a clamping bracket 6 adapted to suitably engage with an outboard motor, not shown, so that the motor is swingably attached to the bracket in the usual manner. The bracket I is also formed with two downwardly bent yokes 1 having threaded apertures 8 adjacent their lower ends for receiving screw threaded clamping screws 9 which are formed with object engaging elements I0, rotatably attached thereto. A spacing bolt or the like, not shown, is adapted to extend through apertures l i in the upper ends of the yokes 1. A T-handle I2 slidably extends through the outer ends of each of the clamping screws 9 so that the latter may be rotated into clamping and unclamping positions in an obvious manner.

The locking mechanism is mounted in an elongated housing 53 of metal or other suitable material having a front wall E4 and a side wall I5 extending around the periphery thereof. The housing is closed by a rear wall I6 removably secured thereto by screws or the like I'I. Spaced, aligned openings I8 and I9, formed in the walls Iii and I3, respectively, are adapted to accommodate the clamping screws 9. A casing 20 of a cylinder lock, operable by a key 2l and including a lockable plug 22 having an eccentric portion 23 thereon, is suitably anchored in the housing i3 and projects through an opening 24 in the center of the iront wall lil thereof. The eccentric portion 23 extends between and cammingly engages with arcuate recesses 2l and 28 formed in the respective lower and upper edges of a pair of spaced locking pawls 25 and 26. The pawls 25 and 26 are suitably pivotally connected at their opposed inner ends to the housing I by pivots 29, and the free ends thereof are formed with curved ratchet engaging hook portions 30 adaptable to interengage with teeth 32 formed in ratchets 3l suitably keyed, as at 33, to each of the clamp screws 9. Springs 34, seated in recesses 35 andV 36 formed in side wall I'5 of the housing I and the respective upper and lower sides of the pawls 25 and 26 adjacent their free ends, serve to normally retain the hook portions 30 of the pawls in locking engagement with the ratchet teeth 32 in an obvious manner.

When it is desired to adjust the clamping screws 9 into clamping position relative to the end board 2 of the boat, the locking key ZI is left in the vertical or twelve oclock position shown in Figure 1. In this position of the key, the eccentric portion 23 thereof will be in the Figure 4 position with respect to the upper and lower locking pawls 25 and 26 so that the hooked portions 30 thereof will be out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 32. Thus, the clamping screws may be freely rotated in a clockwise direction, viewing Figure 1, into clamping engagement with the end board, or in the opposing direction to loosen or remove the clamps. To lock the screws 9 in such clamping positions, the key 2I is then rotated 90 degrees in a clockwise direction, also viewing Figure 1, or to a three oclock position, so that the eccentric portion 23 thereof assumes the Figure 3 position. The tension of the springs 34 serve to force the pawls 25 and 26 downwardly and upwardly, respectively, until the hooked portions thereof engage with the ratchet teeth 32. In this position of the key 2| and locking pawls 25 and 26, it lwill be apparent that the clamping screws 9 mayr` not be rotated in an opposing or. counter clockwise direction, viewing Figure 1, and will be retained in such a locked position and be prevented from becoming dislodged by motor vibration and the like. The key 2,1 willlusually be removed when the clamp has been locked to prevent of the same becoming lost or the clamp being tampered with.

It will 'be understood that the housing I3 may readily be assembled and disassembled from the bracket I by removingthe elements ID and unscrewing the clamping screws 9. AfterV the .housing I 3Whas .been removed from the bracket l, the screws 9.may be removed therefrom by unscrewingthel attaching screws l'ir and loosening. the rearwall I6 fromthe housing so that the screws Q maybe unscrewed, after rst removing the handles l2` W'hilel haveshown and described a preferred embodiment of my lockingdevice, variouschanges andmodications may be made therein without departingfrom thescope and spirit of the appended claims.

Having` thus described my invention what I claim is;

` 1 In, combination with a clamp including clamping. arms having apertures therein, a pair of ,.spa,ces clampingrods extending through said apertures, a. housing mounted on said rods, means onsaidrods for moving the same into and out of clampingengagement, spaced members pivoted at their. opposing ends in said housing, means carried by said rods and arranged in said housingz the, free ends of said pivoted members being addptedtoengage said last mentioned means, and locking. means in said housing between. said pivoted`.members having cam means engageable with said .members for actuating said members into-fand out of locking engagementwithsaid rods..

2. In combination with a clamp including a pair ,of spaced. clamping arms, having apertures therein, .clamping screws threadedly extending through, said-apertures, a housing mounted on said screws, means on said screws for moving the same into and out of clamping engagement, spaced pivoted members in said housing, toothed means carried 'by said screws and arranged in said housing, the free ends of said pivoted members being adapted to engage said toothed means, a locking means extending into said housing, cam .means on said locking means engageable with said members for actuating said members into andout of locking engagement with the toothed means on saidscrews.

3. In combination with a clamp including a pair of spaced clamping arms having apertures therein, clamping screws threadedly extending through said apertures, a housing mounted on said screws, means on said screws for rotating the same, spaced members pivoted at their opposing inner ends in said housing, ratchet means carried by each of said screws and arranged in said housing, the free outer ends of said members being adapted to engage with said ratchets, a locking means. extending,intosaidhousing, an eccentric on said locking means engageable with the sides. ofsaidmembers for actuating said membersinto and; out of locking engagement with ratchet means. onisaid screws.

4.. In combination` with a clamp including a clamping means having apertures therein, clamps ingy screws.threadedlyv` extending through said apertures, ak housing mounted. on. said screws, means onv said screws for rotating the` same, spacedpawl members pivoted at their opposing inner endsin said housing, ratchet means carried byand keyed to each `of said screws and arranged in said housing, spring means engaging with each of-,said pawl members whereby the free outer ends o f saidmembers are adapted ,to engage with .said ratchets, alocking means extending into said housing, aneccen tric on said lockingmeans engageable with grooves inthe side edges of said members, anda keyk removably mountediin said lockingu means ,for rotating said eccentric and moyingsaid pawl members out of locking engagement with said ratchets.

EDMUN D R. SULLIVAN.

REFsRENoEs CITED The-following references are of Yrecord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Number Name. Date 1,363,676 Schwemmer Dec. 28, 1920 1,391,940 Conklin Sept. 27, 1921 

